Source · SPSO (Scottish Public Services Ombudsman)

A Medical Practice in the Tayside NHS Board area

SPSO (Scottish Public Services Ombudsman) Not Upheld Reference 202409557 Sector Health Category Clinical treatment / diagnosis Decided 01 September 2025

Full decision

Summary

C complained that the practice failed to provide them with reasonable care and treatment. C attended the practice with symptoms of an ear infection. C said that they were not prescribed appropriate medication and were unreasonably diagnosed with an outer ear infection. C felt that a swab that was taken damaged their ear.

We took independent advice from a GP. We found that while their communication could have been better, the practice provided reasonable care and treatment in line with the history and information available at the time, and the relevant guidance. The evidence does not suggest that the ear swab caused C’s hearing loss and the practice's rationale for performing the swab was in line with local guidance. We found that the treatment provided was reasonable. We did not uphold C's complaint.

Related reading

View Decision Report 202409557 as a PDF (24.16 KB) Updated: September 17, 2025

View original on SPSO (Scottish Publ… website

Other decisions involving A Medical Practice in the Tayside NHS B…

Reference Date Summary Outcome
202405245 01 Jun 2025 C complained that their GP practice failed to provide them with reasonable care and treatment. C attended the practice with … Upheld
202203063 01 Apr 2024 C complained about the care and treatment that their late sibling (A) received from the practice. A attended the practice … Upheld
202206891 01 Mar 2024 C complained about the care and treatment that they received from the practice prior to their diagnosis of an abdominal … Upheld
202000192 01 Aug 2023 C complained about the practice's care and treatment of their parent (A) who died as a result of sepsis several … Upheld
202109469 01 May 2023 C complained that they did not receive appropriate care and treatment from their GP practice in relation to the diagnosis … Upheld
View all decisions for this organisation